Hélène Grimaud plays Beethoven

The pianist Hélène Grimaud plays as if she has thought deeply about every single note. It’s as if Grimaud is hearing Beethoven’s lyrics in her inner ear.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto; Edgar Varèse’s Ameriques; Ravel’s La Valse. James Conlon, conductor; Hélène Grimaud, piano. December 7-8, 2007 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1900 or www.philorch.org.

Dan Coren

Dec 11, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Understanding tonality (Sonata-form, Part 4)

In his fourth article on sonata-form, Dan Coren invites readers to sing along as he explains not only tonality— the sense of being in a key— but the concept of modulation to the dominant, the glue that holds sonata-form together.

Dan Coren

Dec 04, 2007 · Articles · 9 minute read

Orchestra's "Das Paradies und die Peri' (3rd

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s premiere performance of Das Paradies und die Peri under Sir Simon Rattle revealed buried treasure: an hour and a half of top-drawer Schumann that Wolfgang Sawallisch overlooked.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Schumann, Das Paradies und die Peri. Simon Rattle, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Christine Brandes, soprano, Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano; Mark Padmore, tenor; Joseph Kaiser, tenor; Luca Pisaroni, bass-

Robert Zaller

Dec 04, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra's 'Das Paradies und die Peri' (2nd rev

The much-heralded Philadelphia premiere of Robert Schumann’s oratorio Paradise and the Peri is more than a curiosity but less than a masterpiece. It’s corny, but at least it’s tasty corn, with a stronger vocal cast than the Philadelphia Orchestra usually provides.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Schumann, Das Paradies und die Peri. Simon Rattle, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Christine Brandes, soprano, Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano; Mark Padmore,

Steve Cohen

Dec 01, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra's "Night of the Mayas'

Under the baton of Peruvian conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, an epic musical narrative of Mayan civilization became a fabulous tour de force for and by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Revueltas, Night of the Mayas; Ravel, Rapsodie Espagnole and Markus Groh; Liszt, Piano Concerto No. 1. Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducting; Markus Groh, piano. November 23, 2007 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel center. (215) 893-1900 or

Lewis Whittington

Dec 01, 2007 · Articles · 2 minute read

Frank Guarrera remembered

Frank Guarrera, the baritone who died November 23 at the age of 83, spent 29 years with the Met. But he remained a loyal South Philadelphian.

Steve Cohen

Dec 01, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra's "Das Paradies und die Peri' (1st

Sir Simon Rattle’s devotees may have come mostly to see him bounce around the podium, but they got to hear some beautiful music, too.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Schumann, Das Paradies und die Peri. Simon Rattle, conductor; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Christine Brandes, soprano, Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano; Mark Padmore, tenor; Joseph Kaiser, tenor; Luca Pisaroni, bass-baritone; The Philadelphia Singers Chorale. November 29, 2007 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 89

Tom Purdom

Dec 01, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

AVA's "Cosi fan tutte'

Singing Fiordiligi in the new AVA production of Cosi fan tutte, Angela Meade exhibits plenty of spunk and much more. Hers is a great interpretation of Mozart’s most challenging role. And here an implausible story makes sense for the first time.

Cosi fan tutte
. Opera by W.A. Mozart. Christofer Macatsoris, conductor; Damon Nestor Ploumis, director. Academy of Vocal Arts production through December 1, 2007 at three venues. (215) 735-1685 or

Steve Cohen

Dec 01, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

MirÓ³ Quartet's "Necronomicon'

With John Zorn’s fantastic and magical Necronomicon Quartet, the pulp horror writer H.P. Lovecraft has once again risen from his grave and triumphed over his critics. Or has he?

Miró Quartet: Zorn, Necronomicon (Daniel Ching, Sandy Yamamoto, violins; John Largess, viola; Joshua Gindele, cello). Program also includes Mozart String Quartet in D Major K. 499, Brahms String Quartet

Tom Purdom

Nov 24, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra's postlude concert

I’ve never understood why many people think spontaneous outbursts are more artistically fulfilling than music played from carefully thought out scores. Does anybody think an actor could have come up with “To be or not to be” on the spur of the moment?

Network for New Music, Philadelphia Orchestra postlude: Mandat, Folk Songs (Paul Demers, clarinet); Sierra, Bongo-0 (Anthony Orlando, bongos). November 8, 2007 at Verizon Hall. (215) 848-

Tom Purdom

Nov 13, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read